Corrugated hanging dispenser

ABSTRACT

A dispensing container ( 10, 110 ) for fluent material, which container is intended to he hung vertically from a support, such as a hook, is provided. The dispensing container has a tubular body, with a bottom dispensing region that is configured to promote the collection of the fluent material and guidance of the fluent material toward the inlet aperture of a dispensing nozzle ( 50 ) that is received in the side ( 30, 130 ) of the bottom dispensing region. The dispensing container ( 10, 110 ) is preferably fabricated from corrugated paperboard or similar material, and is preferably configured to serve as the shipping container for the fluent material as well, so as to reduce or eliminate the need for a further outer shipping container. The fluent material may be contained within a separate liner structure, within the surrounding tubular body, in a “bag-in-box” type of container arrangement.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to the benefit of, and claims priority to,PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/US2003/00501 filed on Jan.9, 2003, and titled “Corrugated Hanging Dispenser,” which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,329, issued Sep. 3, 2002,and titled “Corrugated Hanging Dispenser,” both of which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to cartons fabricated from paper,paperboard and/or corrugated paperboard. In particular, the presentinvention is directed to cartons that are configured to be hungvertically to serve as a dispenser for fluent materials.

2. Prior Art

Hanging dispensers are known, for dispensing fluent materials such asliquid or finely powdered soap, detergent and the like. Such prior artdispensing devices are typically fabricated from plastic, glass and/ormetal. In addition, such prior art devices are typically permanentlymounted devices, which to remain useful, must be refilled when theexisting supply of fluent material has been exhausted. Such refillingmay require filling a storage portion of the device from a largercontainer of material (e.g., by pouring from one to the other). Such aprocess can be time consuming and lead to spillage and waste.Alternatively, some prior art dispensing devices employ interchangeableand/or replaceable canisters or cartridges.

It would be desirable to replace such permanently installed dispensingdevices, with disposable devices that may simply be discarded, uponexhaustion of the contents.

It would also be desirable to provide a disposable hanging dispensingdevice that can be readily recycled, either in whole or in part.

It would further be desirable to provide disposable hanging dispensingdevices that can also serve the dual purpose of being the shippingcontainer for the fluent material, which is to be dispensed, withoutrequiring a separate container for the fluent material.

These and other desirable characteristics of the present invention willbecome apparent in view of the present specification, including claims,and drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed, in part, to a dispensing container,operably configured to be suspended from a support for the facilitateddispensing of fluent material. The dispensing container comprises agenerally tubular body, having a closure structure disposed proximate anopening in an upper portion of the tubular body.

The tubular body further has a bottom dispensing region, having aninternal cross-sectional area that decreases from an upper portion ofthe bottom dispensing region to a lower portion of the bottom dispensingregion for collecting and guiding fluent material contained thereintoward a localized area.

The tubular body, including the closure structure and the bottomdispensing region, collectively define and enclose a fluent materialcontainment volume.

The dispensing container further comprises nozzle receiving structure,operably disposed in the bottom dispensing region, for securely butreleasably, restrainedly receiving a dispensing nozzle so that an inletaperture of a dispensing nozzle received by the nozzle receivingstructure opens onto the fluent material containment region, in thebottom dispensing region.

The dispensing container further comprises hanging support structure,operably connected to the tubular body, to enable the dispensingcontainer to be removably hung upon and supported by a projectingsupport member.

The generally tubular body is preferably fabricated from at least one ofthe following materials: paper; paperboard; corrugated paperboard.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the closure structure isopenable and reclosable, to permit the dispensing container to be reusedif desired.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the container isoperably configured to cooperatively receive fluent material containedin a liner enclosure, as a “bag-in-box” type of container.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the generally tubularbody has a rectangular cross-sectional configuration, in a planeperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the dispensing container, alonga predominant portion of its length.

The closure structure preferably comprises at least one top closure flapoperably configured to span an upper opening of the generally tubularbody. Preferably, the bottom dispensing region has an interiorconfiguration in the shape of an inverted pyramid. In a preferredembodiment of the invention, the bottom dispensing region has anexterior configuration in the shape of an inverted gable.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plurality of at leastthree substantially rectangular side wall panels comprises foursubstantially rectangular side wall panels, and the bottom dispensingregion is formed, at least in part, by front and rear bottom panelshaving substantially rectangular shapes; right and left bottom panelshaving substantially triangular shapes.

Preferably, the nozzle receiving structure comprises a nozzle receivingaperture, disposed in the generally tubular body; and a movable nozzlerestraining flap, operably configured to be moved to permit the receiptof a dispensing nozzle into the nozzle receiving aperture, and replacedto capture a received dispensing nozzle in the nozzle receivingaperture. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the nozzlereceiving aperture and nozzle restraining flap are operably configuredto permit a nozzle to be removably connected to the bottom dispensingregion of the dispensing container.

The hanging support structure preferably comprises a hanging flapconnected to an upper portion of the generally tubular body; and atleast one projecting support member receiving aperture disposed in thehanging flap. The hanging flap preferably further comprises a firstportion emanating directly from the generally tubular body; and afolding portion, operably configured to be folded over into juxtaposedposition overlying the first portion, wherein at least first and secondprojecting support member receiving apertures are formed in the firstportion and the folding portion, which at least first and secondprojecting support member receiving apertures are operably configured toalign with one another, when the folding portion of the hanging flap isfolded over and juxtaposed with the first portion of the hanging flap.

When the container is fabricated from corrugated paperboard material,preferably the flutes of the corrugated paperboard material extend inthe blank in a direction parallel to a line extending from the top tothe bottom of the generally tubular body.

The dispensing container may be monolithically formed from a singleblank.

The present invention also comprises in part a blank for forming adispensing container, operably configured to be suspended from a supportfor the facilitated dispensing of fluent material. The blank preferablycomprises, in part, a plurality of at least three substantiallyrectangular side wall panels, operably connected to one another alonglongitudinally extending lines of weakness extending between adjacentones of the side wall panels, for enabling the side wall panels to bearticulated with respect to one another to form, in part, a generallytubular body having an opening in an upper portion of the generallytubular body. The blank further preferably comprises in part, at leastone top closure panel, operably connected to at least one of the sidewall panels, along a top peripheral region thereof, for providing aclosure structure proximate the opening formed in the upper portion of agenerally tubular body formed upon articulation of the plurality ofsubstantially rectangular side wall panels. A plurality of bottom panelsare preferably operably connected to at least three side walls, alongbottom peripheral regions thereof, which are operably configured, uponarticulation of the blank into a container, to enable the formation of abottom dispensing region having an internal cross-sectional area thatdecreases from an upper portion of the bottom dispensing region to alower portion of the bottom dispensing region for collecting and guidingfluent material contained therein toward a localized area.

The plurality of at least three side wall panels, the at least one topclosure panel, and the plurality of bottom panels collectively form thegenerally tubular body and define and enclose, upon articulation of theblank into a container, a fluent material containment volume.

The blank further preferably comprises nozzle receiving structure,operably disposed in at least one of the bottom panels, for securely butreleasably, restrainedly receiving a dispensing nozzle, uponarticulation of the blank into a container, so that an inlet aperture ofa dispensing nozzle received by the nozzle receiving structure opensonto the fluent material containment region, in the bottom dispensingregion.

The blank further preferably comprises at least one hanging flap member,operably connected to at least one of the side wall panels, along a topperipheral region thereof, for forming, upon articulation of the blankinto a container, hanging support structure to enable the dispensingcontainer to be removably hung upon and supported by a projectingsupport member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the blank is fabricated fromat least one of the following materials: paper; paperboard; corrugatedpaperboard.

In a preferred embodiment of the blank, the at least one top closurepanel is operably configured to be openable and reclosable, to permitthe articulated dispensing container to be reused if desired. In onepreferred embodiment of the invention, the blank is operably configured,upon articulation into the dispensing container, to cooperativelyreceive fluent material contained in a liner enclosure, to form a“bag-in-box” type of container.

In a preferred embodiment of the blank, the plurality of at least threesubstantially rectangular side wall panels comprises four substantiallyrectangular side wall panels operably connected to one another alonglongitudinally extending lines of weakness extending between adjacentones of the side wall panels, for enabling the side wall panels to bearticulated with respect to one another to form a generally tubular bodyhaving a rectangular cross-sectional configuration, in a planeperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the dispensing container, alonga predominant portion of its length.

In a preferred embodiment of the blank, the plurality of bottom panels,enabling formation of the bottom dispensing region, are operablyconfigured to form, upon articulation of the blank into a container, aninterior configuration in the shape of an inverted pyramid.

In a preferred embodiment of the blank, the plurality of bottom panels,enabling formation of the bottom dispensing region, are operablyconfigured to form, upon articulation of the blank into a dispensingcontainer, an exterior configuration in the shape of an inverted gable.

In a preferred embodiment of the blank, the plurality of at least threesubstantially rectangular side wall panels comprises four substantiallyrectangular side wall panels, and wherein the plurality of bottom panelscomprises, at least in part, front and rear bottom panels connected torespective ones of the side wall panels and having substantiallyrectangular shapes; and right and left bottom panels connected torespective other ones of the side wall panels and having substantiallytriangular shapes.

In a preferred embodiment of the blank, the nozzle receiving structurecomprises a nozzle receiving aperture, disposed in at least one of thebottom panels; and a movable nozzle restraining flap, operablyconfigured to be moved to permit the receipt of a dispensing nozzle intothe nozzle receiving aperture, and replaced to capture a receiveddispensing nozzle in the nozzle receiving aperture.

In a preferred embodiment of the blank, the nozzle receiving apertureand the nozzle restraining flap are operably configured to permit anozzle to be removably connected to the bottom dispensing region of adispensing container formed from the blank.

In a preferred embodiment of the blank, the at least one hanging flapmember further comprises at least one projecting support memberreceiving aperture disposed in the at least one hanging flap member.Preferably, in the blank the at least one hanging flap member furthercomprises a first portion emanating directly from at least one of theplurality of side wall panels, and a folding portion, operablyconfigured to be folded over into juxtaposed position overlying thefirst portion, wherein at least first and second projecting supportmember receiving apertures are formed in the first portion and thefolding portion, which at least first and second projecting supportmember receiving apertures are operably configured to align with oneanother, when the folding portion of the at least one hanging flapmember is folded over and juxtaposed with the first portion of the atleast one hanging flap member.

In a preferred embodiment of the blank, the blank is fabricated fromcorrugated paperboard material, and the flutes of the corrugatedpaperboard material extend in the blank in a direction parallel to aline extending from the top to the bottom of the generally tubular bodyformed upon articulation of the blank.

In a preferred embodiment of the blank, the blank is monolithicallyformed.

The invention also comprises, in part, a dispensing container, operablyconfigured to be suspended from a support for the facilitated dispensingof fluent material.

In this alternative embodiment of the invention, the dispensingcontainer comprises a generally tubular body, having a closure structuredisposed proximate an opening in an upper portion of the tubular body.The tubular body further has a bottom dispensing region, having aninternal cross-sectional area that decreases from an upper portion ofthe bottom dispensing region to a lower portion of the bottom dispensingregion for collecting and guiding fluent material contained thereintoward a localized area. The tubular body, including the closurestructure and the bottom dispensing region, collectively form thegenerally tubular body and define and enclose a fluent materialcontainment volume.

This alternative embodiment of the invention further preferablycomprises nozzle receiving structure, operably disposed in the bottomdispensing region, for securely but releasably, restrainedly receiving adispensing nozzle so that an inlet aperture of a dispensing nozzlereceived by the nozzle receiving structure opens onto the fluentmaterial containment region, in the bottom dispensing region, with adispensing nozzle insertably received in the nozzle receiving structure,and having an inlet opening onto the fluent containment region and anopenable and reclosable outlet opening onto a region exterior to thedispensing container. Hanging support structure is operably connected tothe tubular body, to enable the dispensing container to be removablyhung upon and supported by a projecting support member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hanging dispenser apparatus accordingto a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

FIG. 3 is a left side elevation thereof, the right side elevation beinga mirror image thereof.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a blank for the hanging dispenser apparatus ofthe embodiment of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a composite of several views of the hanging dispenser of FIGS.1-4 in an inverted orientation, minus the dispensing nozzle.

FIG. 6 is a composite of two views of the hanging dispenser of FIGS.1-4, showing each of the top and bottom ends of the dispenser prior toclosure.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a blank for a hanging dispenser apparatusaccording to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the hanging dispenser apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the blank of FIG. 7, shown in invertedorientation, with the dispensing end open.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the hanging dispenser apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the blank of FIG. 7, shown in invertedorientation, with the dispensing end closed, and further showing thedispensing aperture, minus the dispensing nozzle.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the hanging dispenser apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the blank of FIG. 7, shown in invertedorientation, with the dispensing end closed, and further showing thehanging apertures in the rear wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein indetail, a specific embodiment, with the understanding that the presentinvention is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles ofthe invention and is not intended to limit the invention to theembodiment illustrated.

Dispensing container 10 is illustrated in a first preferred embodiment,in FIGS. 1-6. Dispensing container 10 is shown, in its articulated,assembled form in FIGS. 1-3, being perspective, front and left sideviews respectively.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a blank 12 for forming dispensing container 10,with the “inside” surface of blank 12 facing the observer. In FIG. 4, asin the other figures, unless otherwise noted, the usual convention isobserved that solid lines on the interior of a figure represent cuts,edges or points of inflection (like a ridge, crease or inwardly oroutwardly projecting gusset), and broken or dashed lines indicate folds,score lines or other lines of weakness.

Blank 12 is preferably fabricated from corrugated paperboard, althoughother similar fiber based materials may be employed. Blank 12 may alsobe coated, impregnated or laminated, on the inside, outside or both,with materials that may provide moisture resistance, substantiallycomplete liquid barrier characteristics, vapor barrier characteristicsor other handling or performance characteristics, as may be desired.Preferably, any such coatings, impregnations or laminations will be madeof materials which themselves permit recycling of the entire container10 (minus nozzle 50 as described herein) without special pre-treatment.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flutes are oriented torun vertically in most of the finished container, particularly the largefront, left, right and rear side walls, to provide improved strength inthe side walls to resist elongation of the side walls under load,especially if the container is to be subjected to a moist or humidenvironment.

Dispensing container 10 has a front wall 14, left side wall 16, rightside wall 18, rear wall 20, top wall 22, hanging flap 24, top closureflaps 26 and 28, bottom front wall 30, bottom closure flap 32, bottomrear wall 34, left bottom panel 36 with adjacent gusset flaps 38 and 40,right bottom panel 42 with adjacent gusset flaps 44 and 46, andcontainer closure flap 48.

Dispensing container 10 typically will also include an openable andsecurely reclosable dispensing nozzle 50, which may have any particularshape and configuration as may be desired or required by thecharacteristics of the particular fluent material being dispensed. Thefluent material intended to be dispensed may be further contained withina liner bag (not shown), the bottom end of which may be connected to aninner aperture (not shown) of nozzle 50. This will create a “bag-in-box”type of container. Alternatively, the fluent material may not be furtherconfined within a liner bag, and so the inner aperture of nozzle 50 maysimply open onto the interior of dispensing container 10. Suchdispensing nozzles are well known, and as such, the specific details ofthe construction of nozzle 50 need not be addressed for the principlesof the present invention to be understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art having the present disclosure before them. Accordingly, suchdetails of nozzle 50 are generally omitted from the present application.

However, regardless of the specific construction of nozzle 50, it willtypically have two axially spaced surrounding retaining flanges, such asouter flange 52 which bears against the outer surface of bottom frontpanel 30, and a corresponding inner flange (not shown) that will bearagainst the inner surface of bottom front panel 30, so that nozzle 50will be securely held in place, to facilitate operation of the nozzle.In order to facilitate installation of nozzle 50, nozzle restrainingflap 54, which is pivotable about fold line 56 is provided in bottomfront panel 30, adjacent die cut aperture 58. Die cut aperture 58 ispreferably configured to have a shape, which conforms to the outerperiphery of that portion of nozzle 50 between the inner and outeraxially spaced retaining flanges. In a typical nozzle 50, that portionof nozzle 50 between the retaining flanges is circular, so aperture 58,in a typical preferred embodiment, will likewise be circular, and have adiameter slightly greater than the diameter of the Is portion of nozzle50 being surrounded.

Hanging flap 24 includes a rigid portion 60 (emanating from the upperportion of rear wall 20) from which folding portion 62 emanates. Rigidportion 60 includes hanging apertures 64, 66. Folding portion 62includes hanging apertures 68, 70, which, in FIG. 4 are inverted, sothat when folding portion 62 is folded over, apertures 68, 70 overlieand align with apertures 64, 66. Folding portion 62 further includeslocking aperture 72, the function of which will be described later.

When dispensing container 10 is to be formed, front wall 14, left andright side walls 16 and 18 and rear wall 20 are folded about theirrespective longitudinal fold lines to form a rectangular tubular body.Closure flap 48 is folded to the inside of right side wall 18 and bottomrear wall 34, and affixed thereto, preferably with any suitable adhesivematerial.

Next, formation of the bottom dispensing portion of the tubular body isaccomplished, by pushing right and left bottom panels 36, 42, inwardly,causing, in turn, gusset panels 38, 40 and 44, 46 to be pushed inwardly.This movement, in turn, causes the bottom front wall 30 and bottom rearwall 34, to incline toward one another, to form an inverted gable, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Finally, bottom closure flap 32 is folded overto be juxtaposed to the outside surface of bottom rear wall 34 andsuitably permanently affixed thereto, such as by a suitable adhesive.

Preferably, the dimensions, proportions and aspect ratios of the variousbottom walls and panels are selected, so that when the inwardarticulation of all the panels is completed, gusset panels 38 and 46 aresubstantially parallel and juxtaposed to bottom front wall 30, andgusset panels 40 and 44 are substantially parallel and juxtaposed tobottom rear wall 34. In addition, when articulation is completed, theinterior configuration of bottom front wall 30, bottom rear wall 34,left bottom panel 36 and right bottom panel 42 form an invertedfour-sided pyramid, with all sides sloping to a central bottom point.This inverted pyramidal configuration of the interior bottom is usefulin that it promotes the concentration and guidance of the fluentmaterial to a small localized area. Preferably, nozzle aperture 58 ispositioned within bottom front panel 30 close to the “point” of theinverted pyramidal shape, so that the fluent material being dispensed isprompted toward the inlet of nozzle 50. In this manner, wastage offluent material is minimized.

All of the creases and joints in the fully articulated dispensingcontainer 10 may be rendered substantially siftproof with respect toparticulate material and, depending upon whether blank 12 has beencoated or laminated as described previously, leakproof with respect toliquid or slurry materials.

Folding portion 62 is then folded over, to the inside of rigid portion60, and affixed thereto. Folding portion 62 provides container 10 with adouble-thickness of material in the regions of apertures 64,66, 68, 70,which might otherwise be susceptible to tear initiation and propagationby narrow-diameter metal hanging hooks or other similar hanging devices.

Dispensing container 10 may then be filled with the fluent material,whether in a further liner bag or not. If a liner bag is provided, as ina “bag-in-box” type container, typically, nozzle 50 will be alreadypermanently affixed to the bottom of the bag. To install nozzle 50,nozzle restraining flap 54 will be pushed out, the liner bag with nozzle50 attached, is inserted into dispensing container 10, and nozzle 50 ispushed through aperture 58, so that the inner and outer restrainingflanges capture the thickness of bottom front wall 30. Nozzlerestraining flap 54 is then tucked back into place, with its bottomperiphery captured between the inner and outer retaining flanges ofnozzle 50. If no liner bag is used, then nozzle 50 may be installed fromthe inside out or outside in, as desired or expedient.

Closure of dispensing container 10 is accomplished by folding over topclosure flaps 26, 28, and then folding over top wall 22. Top wallclosure flap 74 is folded perpendicular to top wall 22. Closure tab 76is die cut into top wall closure flap 74, so that closure tab 76projects when top wall closure flap 74 is folded over. Closure tab 76 isinserted between the rear edges of top closure flaps 26, 28, and theinner facing surface of folding portion 62, and closure tab 76 isinsertingly received into closure aperture 72.

When the contents of dispensing container 10 have been exhausted, nozzle50 (with liner bag, if present) may be removed and separately recycled(if fabricated from suitably recyclable materials), and the remainingcontainer 10 may be crushed or otherwise reduced, and recycled usingordinary recycling techniques.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, containers 10 will haverectangular cross-sections (when seen from above) as is the case withthe embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, so that containers 10 can: be filled withfluent material, and stacked on their sides (such as on pallets),without the need for additional packaging, apart from plastic shrinkwrap or other known techniques for restraining unboxed items on shippingpallets or flats. In this manner, container 10 serves not only as adispenser, but also as the shipping container for the fluent material tobe dispensed.

The dispensing container of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 is provided witha rectangular cross-sectional configuration, when viewed from above orbelow. However, it is to be understood that other polygonalcross-sectional configurations may be employed, without departing fromthe scope of the present invention, as they may be configured to providea bottom dispensing region that is in the shape of an inverted pyramid,to come to a point at the bottom, while still resulting from aneconomically shaped and relatively simple blank configuration. Forexample, a dispensing container having a tubular body with only threesides (resulting in a triangular cross-section when viewed from above)may be readily formed, resulting in a bottom dispensing region in theshape of a three-sided pyramid. Other cross-sectional configurations maybe employed, although increasing the number of sides may increase thecomplexity of the blank and method of articulation of the blank into afunctional container, possibly increasing the cost of the container.Fewer than three side walls of course, cannot define a volume, unlessone of the side walls is curved and not planar.

The sequence of panels formed in blank 10 as shown in FIG. 4, with theright side wall, front wall, left side wall, and rear wall, proceedingfrom left to right, with their corresponding top and bottom closurepanels and/or hanging flap panels, represents a preferred embodiment ofthe invention. However, it is to be understood that the illustratedsequence may be varied (i.e., indexed) by one of ordinary skill in theart, having the present disclosure before them, without substantiallyaltering the resultant dispensing container configuration (and thuswithout departing from the scope of the present invention), as thiswould simply result in the shifting of the manufacturer's joint from onelongitudinally (i.e., vertically) extending corner of the finallyerected container to the next.

FIGS. 5 and 6 provide additional views of the dispenser of theembodiment of FIGS. 1-4, minus the dispensing nozzle.

Dispensing container 110 is illustrated in an alternative preferredembodiment, in FIGS. 7-10. Dispensing container 110 is shown, in itsarticulated, assembled form in FIGS. 8-10.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a blank 112 for forming dispensing container110, with the “inside” surface of blank 112 facing the observer. InFIGS. 7-10, as in the other figures, unless otherwise noted, the usualconvention is observed that solid lines on the interior of a figurerepresent cuts, edges or points of inflection (like a ridge, crease orinwardly or outwardly projecting gusset), and broken or dashed linesindicate folds, score lines or other lines of weakness.

Blank 112 is preferably fabricated from corrugated paperboard, althoughother similar fiber based materials may be employed. Blank 112 may alsobe coated, impregnated or laminated, on the inside, outside or both,with materials that may provide moisture resistance, substantiallycomplete liquid barrier characteristics, vapor barrier characteristicsor other handling or performance characteristics, as may be desired.Preferably, any such coatings, impregnations or laminations will be madeof materials which themselves permit recycling of the entire container110 (minus the dispensing nozzle, not shown, but which may be identicalto nozzle 50 as described herein with respect to the embodiment of FIGS.1-6) without special pre-treatment. In the embodiment of FIGS. 7-10, theif executed in corrugated material, the corrugations may be selected torun horizontally in the fully erected container, or they may be selectedto run vertically.

Dispensing container 110 has a front wall 114, left side wall 116, rightside wall 118, rear wall 120, major (outside) top closure flaps 122 and124, minor (inside) top closure flaps 126 and 128, bottom front wall130, bottom closure flap (glue flange) 132, bottom rear wall 134, leftbottom panel 136 with adjacent gusset flaps 138 and 140, right bottompanel 142 with adjacent gusset flaps 144 and 146, and container closure(or glue) flap 148, which has a diagonal cut 150, to accommodate thebending of flap 148 when the gable bottom is formed.

Dispensing container 110 typically will also include an openable andsecurely reclosable dispensing nozzle (not shown), which as in theembodiment of FIGS. 1-6, may have any particular shape and configurationas may be desired or required by the characteristics of the particularfluent material being dispensed. The fluent material intended to bedispensed may be further contained within a liner bag (not shown), thebottom end of which may be connected to an inner aperture (not shown) ofthe nozzle. This will create a “bag-in-box” type of container.Alternatively, the fluent material may not be further confined within aliner bag, and so the inner aperture of the nozzle may simply open ontothe interior of dispensing container 110. Such dispensing nozzles arewell known, and as such, the specific details of the construction of thenozzle need not be addressed for the principles of the present inventionto be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art having the presentdisclosure before them. Accordingly, such details of the dispensingnozzle are generally omitted from the present application.

However, regardless of the specific construction of the dispensingnozzle, it will typically have two axially spaced surrounding retainingflanges, such as an outer flange (like flange 52 in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-6) which bears against the outer surface of bottom front panel130, and a corresponding inner flange (not shown) that will bear againstthe inner surface of bottom front panel 130, so that the nozzle will besecurely held in place, to facilitate operation of the nozzle. In orderto facilitate installation of the nozzle, nozzle restraining flap 154,which is pivotable about fold line 156 is provided in bottom front panel130, adjacent die cut aperture 158. Die cut aperture 158 is preferablyconfigured to have a shape, which conforms to the outer periphery ofthat portion of the nozzle between the inner and outer axially spacedretaining flanges. In a typical nozzle, that portion of the nozzlebetween the retaining flanges is circular, so aperture 158, in a typicalpreferred embodiment, will likewise be circular, and have a diameterslightly greater than the diameter of the portion of the nozzle beingsurrounded.

Instead of the hanging flap 24 used in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6,hanging dispenser apparatus 110 is suspended via hanging apertures 164,166 which are disposed in a upper region of rear wall 120.

When dispensing container 110 is to be formed, front wall 114, left andright side walls 116 and 118 and rear wall 120 are folded about theirrespective longitudinal fold lines to form a rectangular tubular body.Closure flap (or glue lap) 148 is folded to the inside of right sidewall 118 and bottom rear wall 134, and affixed thereto, preferably withany suitable adhesive material.

Next, formation of the bottom dispensing portion of the tubular body isaccomplished, by pushing right and left bottom panels 136, 142,inwardly, causing, in turn, gusset panels 138, 140 and 144, 146 to bepushed inwardly. This movement, in turn, causes the bottom front wall130 and bottom rear wall 134, to incline toward one another, to form aninverted gable, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Finally, bottom closure flap(glue flap) 132 is folded over to be juxtaposed to the outside surfaceof bottom rear wall 134 and suitably permanently affixed thereto, suchas by a suitable adhesive.

Preferably, the dimensions, proportions and aspect ratios of the variousbottom walls and panels are selected, so that when the inwardarticulation of all the panels is completed, gusset panels 138 and 146are substantially parallel and juxtaposed to bottom front wall 130, andgusset panels 140 and 144 are substantially parallel and juxtaposed tobottom rear wall 134. In addition, when articulation is completed, theinterior configuration of bottom front wall 130, bottom rear wall 134,left bottom panel 136 and right bottom panel 142 form an invertedfour-sided pyramid, with all sides sloping to a central bottom point.This inverted pyramidal configuration of the interior bottom is usefulin that it promotes the concentration and guidance of the fluentmaterial to a small localized area. Preferably, nozzle aperture 158 ispositioned within bottom front panel 130 close to the “point” of theinverted pyramidal shape, so that the fluent material being dispensed isprompted toward the inlet of the dispensing nozzle (not shown). In thismanner, wastage of fluent material is minimized.

All of the creases and joints in the fully articulated dispensingcontainer 110 may be rendered substantially siftproof with respect toparticulate material and, depending upon whether blank 112 has beencoated or laminated as described previously, leakproof with respect toliquid or slurry materials.

Dispensing container 110 may then be filled with the fluent material,whether in a further liner bag or not. If a liner bag is provided, as ina “bag-in-box” type container, typically, the dispensing nozzle (notshown) will be already permanently affixed to the bottom of the bag. Toinstall the dispensing nozzle, nozzle restraining flap 154 will bepushed out, the liner bag with nozzle attached is inserted intodispensing container 110, and the nozzle is pushed through aperture 158,so that the inner and outer restraining flanges capture the thickness ofbottom front wall 130. Nozzle restraining flap 154 is then tucked backinto place, with its bottom periphery captured between the inner andouter retaining flanges of the dispensing nozzle. If no liner bag isused, then the nozzle may be installed from the inside out or outsidein, as desired or expedient.

Closure of dispensing container 110 is accomplished by folding overminor top closure flaps 126, 128, and then folding over and gluing majortop closure flaps 122, 124.

When the contents of dispensing container 110 have been exhausted, thenozzle (with liner bag, if present) may be removed and separatelyrecycled (if fabricated from suitably recyclable materials), and theremaining container 110 may be crushed or otherwise reduced, andrecycled using ordinary recycling techniques.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, containers 110 will haverectangular cross-sections (when seen from above) as is the case withthe embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, so that containers 110 can be filled withfluent material, and stacked on their sides (such as on pallets),without the need for additional packaging, apart from plastic shrinkwrap or other known techniques for restraining unboxed items on shippingpallets or flats. In this manner, container 110 serves not only as adispenser, but also as the shipping container for the fluent material tobe dispensed.

The dispensing container of the embodiment of FIGS. 7-10 is providedwith a rectangular cross-sectional configuration, when viewed from aboveor below. However, it is to be understood that other polygonalcross-sectional configurations may be employed, without departing fromthe scope of the present invention, as they may be configured to providea bottom dispensing region that is in the shape of an inverted pyramid,to come to a point at the bottom, while still resulting from aneconomically shaped and relatively simple blank configuration. Forexample, a dispensing container having a tubular body with only threesides (resulting in a triangular cross-section when viewed from above)may be readily formed, resulting in a bottom dispensing region in theshape of a three-sided pyramid. Other cross-sectional configurations maybe employed, although increasing the number of sides may increase thecomplexity of the blank and method of articulation of the blank into afunctional container, possibly increasing the cost of the container.Fewer than three side walls of course, cannot define a volume, unlessone of the side walls is curved and not planar.

The sequence of panels formed in blank 110 as shown in FIG. 7, with theright side wall, front wall, left side wall, and rear wall, proceedingfrom right to left, with their corresponding top and bottom closurepanels, represents a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, itis to be understood that the illustrated sequence may be varied (i.e.,indexed) by one of ordinary skill in the art, having the presentdisclosure before them, without substantially altering the resultantdispensing container configuration (and thus without departing from thescope of the present invention), as this would simply result in theshifting of the manufacturer's joint from one longitudinally (i.e.,vertically) extending corner of the finally erected container to thenext.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate theinvention, and the invention is not limited except insofar as theappended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have thedisclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variationstherein without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. A dispensing container operably configured to be suspended from asupport for facilitating dispensing of fluent material, the dispensingcontainer comprising: a substantially tubular body defining andenclosing a cavity of the dispensing container, the cavity defining afluent material containment volume, the tubular body comprising: aclosure structure disposed proximate an opening in an upper portion ofthe tubular body; and a bottom dispensing region comprising an internalcross-sectional area that decreases from an upper portion of the bottomdispensing region to a lower portion of the bottom dispensing region forcollecting and guiding fluent material contained therein toward alocalized area; a nozzle receiving structure operably disposed in thebottom dispensing region for securely but releasably, restrainedlyreceiving a dispensing nozzle so that an inlet aperture of thedispensing nozzle received by the nozzle receiving structure opens ontothe cavity at the bottom dispensing region; and a hanging supportstructure defined through the tubular body to enable the dispensingcontainer to be removably hung upon and supported by a projectingsupport member, wherein the hanging support structure comprises at leastone hanging aperture defined in a wall of the tubular body, the at leastone hanging aperture providing access to the cavity, the substantiallytubular body being fabricated from at least one of paper, paperboard,and corrugated paperboard.
 2. A dispensing container according to claim1 wherein the hanging support structure comprises a pair of hangingapertures defined through a wall of the tubular body, a first one of thepair of hanging apertures being spaced from a second one of the pair ofhanging apertures along a width of the wall of the tubular body.
 3. Ablank for forming a dispensing container that is operably configured tobe suspended from a support for facilitating dispensing of fluentmaterial, the blank comprising: a plurality of at least threesubstantially rectangular side wall panels, operably connected to oneanother along longitudinally extending lines of weakness extendingbetween adjacent ones of the side wall panels, the lines of weaknessenabling the side wall panels to be articulated with respect to oneanother to form, in part, a substantially tubular body defining a cavityof the dispensing container and comprising an opening in an upperportion of the substantially tubular body; at least one top closurepanel operably connected to at least one of the side wall panels along atop peripheral region thereof, the at least one top closure panelproviding a closure structure proximate the opening formed in the upperportion of a the substantially tubular body formed upon articulation ofthe plurality of substantially rectangular side wall panels; a pluralityof bottom panels operably connected to at least three side walls alongbottom peripheral regions thereof; the plurality of bottom panels areoperably configured, upon articulation of the blank into the dispensingcontainer, to enable the formation of a bottom dispensing regioncomprising an internal cross-sectional area that decreases from an upperportion of the bottom dispensing region to a lower portion of the bottomdispensing region for collecting and guiding fluent material containedtherein toward a localized area; the plurality of at least three sidewall panels, the at least one top closure panel, and the plurality ofbottom panels collectively forming the substantially tubular body anddefining and enclosing, upon articulation of the blank into a container,the cavity that defines a fluent material containment volume; a nozzlereceiving structure operably disposed in at least one of the bottompanels, the nozzle receivigg structure securely but releasably,restrainedly receiving a dispensing nozzle, upon articulation of theblank into the dispensing container, so that an inlet aperture of thedispensing nozzle received by the nozzle receiving structure opens ontothe cavity at the bottom dispensing region; and at least one hangingaperture defined through one of the at least three substantiallyrectangular side wall panels, wherein, upon articulation of the blankinto the dispensing container, the at least one hanging aperture enablesaccess to the cavity; the blank being fabricated from at least one ofthe following materials: paper, paperboard, and corrugated paperboard.